Worship Wednesday with Pastor Edith
October 28, 2026
2 Corinthians 5:17-18

Happy Worship Wednesday everyone! From where I sit it is another glorious and blue- sky day and oh how that cheers me on. Perhaps where you are sitting it is not so glorious. If that is the case read on, God has a good word for you.

Our text today reads; “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come; The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation”. In a similar writing to the church in Rome, Paul says; “For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!”

I am inspired today by Oswald Chambers who preached and taught the bible in the early 1900’s. Concerning this particular verse from Romans 5:10 Chambers writes; “I am not saved by believing; I realize I am saved by believing. It is not repentance that saves me, repentance is the sign that I realize what God has done in Christ Jesus. The danger is to put the emphasis on the effect instead of on the cause…The salvation of God does not stand on human logic, it stands on the sacrificial Death of Jesus…We have not to work out these things ourselves; they have been worked out by the Atonement. The supernatural becomes natural by the miracle of God; there is the realization of what Jesus Christ has already done—‘It is finished’”(“My Utmost for His Highest 1963 edition pg. 223).

I pray today that you will find hope, help and healing meditating on these verses. That by the blessed assurance of God that all you are experiencing can draw you closer to Him and His plan to keep you safe in His saving grace ( I am pretty sure you have a song or two running through your mind right about now – smile).

I will close with part of a little chorus I learned many years ago; “Thank you, Lord, for saving my soul. Thank you, Lord, for making me whole. Thank you, Lord, for giving to me, Thy great salvation so rich and free”.

AMEN! and Pray on!

Worship Wednesday with Pastor Edith
October 21, 2026
Psalm 32:7

Today’s verse for meditation; “You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah”. The last word in this phrase means to pause and think about what you just read, or in the case of Psalms, what you just sang. I literally can sing this phrase as I learned it in youth group as a young person, and in times of worry or trouble, I am really thankful that I was taught to sing this verse. Sometimes singing can change my attitude and my perspective of the trouble I am facing. Do you have a song that comes to mind when you are weary and troubled (sounds like a song right there – smile).

The idea of being surrounded by songs of deliverance is so beautiful to me. I love music and participating in music is a source of joy to me. How about you? Can you pause and think about a recent time you were part of, or at least exposed to, music that helped you step away from the stuff that troubles you and just worship our marvelous God?

If you don’t know the little chorus; “You are my hiding place”, perhaps you can sing this portion of another wonderful song; “Oh soul are you weary and troubled, no light in the darkness you see. There’s hope for a look at the Savior, a life more abundant and free. Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and Grace”.

AMEN! and Pray on!

Worship Wednesday with Pastor Edith
October 14, 2026
Romans 8:26-27

This morning I am struggling with my vision. My physical eyes are still recovering from cataract surgery and my brain is struggling to help me see from a far-sighted perspective. I am increasingly aggravated that I have to constantly put on reading glasses any time I am looking at my phone, the calendar, a recipe, or studying etc. At the same time, I am impatient with myself that I have been blessed to have foggy cataracts removed and can see quite well to drive my car, night driving being the exception. How about you? Are you blessed in so many ways, yet finding yourself frustrated or impatient?

Today’s journal scripture comes to us from a man who also was blessed in so many ways and yet found himself frustrated and impatient with himself and others. Paul writes; “The Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God”. Praise the Lord! When we feel less than qualified to pray for the healing, helping, encouraging, and directing in God’s will, the Holy Spirit fills in the gap with spot on, God directed prayers. As we often say in my congregation; “When you don’t know what to do, what should you do? Pray. When you don’t know what to pray, what should you pray? Thank-you God!” From there the Holy Spirit takes all of our concerns and brings them to God, praying on our behalf for His will to be done on earth as it is in heaven.

A closing song; “Holy Spirit you are welcome here, come flood this place and fill the atmosphere. Your glory God is what our hearts long for, to be overcome by your presence Lord…”

AMEN! and Pray on!

Worship Wednesday with Pastor Edith
October 8, 2026
Psalm 119:18

Yesterday I had my cataract surgery and have been so looking forward to the fog being gone and having clearer vision. Perhaps it is a longer healing process, but as of today, I am having to wear reading glasses and juggle sunglasses as the bright light is blinding and painful. Funny how a verse from my church prayer calendar for yesterday had the above Psalm 119:18; “Open my eyes that I may contemplate wondrous things from your instruction” (Christian Standard Bible).

I was reading a commentary that compared this verse with Saul’s (Paul’s) encounter with Christ on the road to Damascus. Paul was exposed to a blinding light that left him sightless until the day he was healed; “Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, ‘Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.’ Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again…”

I felt a little bit like Saul when I closed my eyes after surgery, prayed a “thank-you” prayer and opened my eyes. Though a bit blurry and very light sensitive the day of, 2 days later I was driving and couldn’t get over all the details I had been missing with poor vision. A friend said that we are like frogs in a kettle, the heat gets turned up a little at a time until we cannot escape and are boiled. So, it often is with poor vision. It sometimes comes on very slowly and we just get used to it until one day I’m using a magnifying glass to read regular print and even a magnifying glass didn’t help read the fine print on some food labels.

Today I had more bright flashing lights hit my eyes at my follow up to check on how my eyes are recovering. I’ve often wondered if it is a bad thing to look at super bright lights, why the tests that flash bright beams of light directly into your pupil is ok. I guess it’s just another example of life’s conundrums (smile). I’m also guessing that many who will read this post are shaking their heads in agreement and understanding of the whole cataract deal. But I’m wondering if we are just as sensitive to our poor spiritual vision. Have we gotten used to going day by day without reading, hearing, singing, or sharing what God says to his children in the Bible? Perhaps this is a good opportunity to pray Psalm 119:18 and listen for the Holy Spirit to guide you through a new eye-opening experience with Him.

I will close with a few words of a favorite hymn; “Open my eyes that I may see, visions of truth thou hast for me. I hold in my hand the wonderful key, that shall unclasp and set me free. Silently now I wait for thee. Ready my God thy will to see. Open my eyes, illumine me, Spirit divine”.

AMEN! and Pray on!

Worship Wednesday with Pastor Edith
September 23, 2026
2 Peter 1:2+18

In his second letter to the churches, Peter begins and ends on the same note of encouragement; “Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord…grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forevermore! Amen”. I pray this encourages you as well.

My study bible notes read; “Original, authentic knowledge about Christ is contained in God’s Word, so Peter’s farewell warning was not to neglect God’s Word” (Halley’s Study Bible, Zondervan publishing 2010 pg. 1598). What does it look like, what does it feel like to have original and authentic knowledge about Christ? One of the most influential American evangelists; A.W. Tozer writes; “To our questions God has provided answers; not all the answers, certainly, but enough to satisfy our intellects and ravish our hearts. These answers He has provided in nature, in the Scriptures, and in the person of His Son” (“The Knowledge of the Holy”, Harper-Collins publishing 1961, pg.13).

Sing with me; “Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so. Little ones to him belong, they are weak but he is strong. Yes, Jesus loves me. Yes, Jesus loves me. Yes, Jesus loves me, the Bible tells me so”.

AMEN! and Pray on!

Worship Wednesday with Pastor Edith
September 16, 2026
John 14:27, Romans 5:1-2

Jesus told his disciples; “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid”. The Apostle Paul told the believers in Rome; “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand”.

What do you suppose Jesus meant when he said; “I do not give to you [peace] as the world gives”? One way I understand his peace is that it is constant, consistent and eternal. The converse of that would be the waffling, inconsistent and temporary quick fixes that the world offers when pain and turmoil confront us. Looking at Paul’s teaching about the peace we have with God; I see an aspect of it I did not see before today. His phrase; “…we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand”, this idea of standing in grace is a beautiful word picture of the constant, consistent and eternal soul peace God offers to each of us. The perfect peace of God is only obtained by faith in this Jesus who gave himself up for us, who loved the whole world so much that he took on all our sin, pain and turmoil.

I want to encourage you today to remember how much God loves you and that His plan is still in effect; to rescue the perishing, to bring peace that surpasses all human understanding, and secure for you a life of purpose and eternal life when this one is finished. When in doubt, check it out in the Gospels.

Part of a favorite hymn of mine says; “O to grace how great a debtor, daily I’m constrained to be!” All my debt/sin constrains (compels me to stay close) to the only one who can clear me. The next line of this hymn stanza says; “Let thy goodness like a fetter, bind my wondering heart to thee…” Perhaps you are familiar with “Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing”, the hymn I am quoting. If so, sing it out loud and include a hearty Amen!

Pray on!

Worship Wednesday with Pastor Edith
September 9, 2026
Psalm 103:22

“Praise the Lord, all his works everywhere in his dominion. Praise the Lord, O my soul”. David doesn’t ask God for anything in this hymn of praise. David is simply thankful for the blessings of newness of life with God. In verses 1 - 5 he tells himself; “Bless the Lord, O my soul and all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from destruction, who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, who satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s”.

Today, I am reading this psalm as a reminder to stop and praise the Lord. Do you ever talk to yourself? Have you ever found yourself looking at something you are considering to purchase and don’t even realize you are talking when another shopper comes by and says something like; “I get that, can you believe how much things cost nowadays?”. I remember one time while shopping at an Aldi store, I was actually singing; “Sunny day, everything’s A Ok, friendly neighbors there, that’s where we meet. Can you tell me how to get, how to get to Sesame Street, how to get to Sesame Street” (smile). My kids weren’t even little then, I just had that song in my head and as a stress reliever, I was just singing away and sure enough, a fellow shopper said, “I loved that show too”. I didn’t even realize I was singing out loud. Listen how David is talking to himself when he says; “Bless the Lord, O my soul…” It is something to think about; how we talk to ourselves. Do we speak positively or negatively, do we say words of encouragement, words of gratitude, are we in the mindset of praising God? Maybe you or someone in your sphere of influence is struggling with negative self-talk. Here’s a thought for today, sing praises to the God who created you in His image and loves you with an everlasting love. Life may still go on as a struggle, but you can remind yourself you are not alone. Call a friend and share what is happening, ask for prayer and perhaps a practical form of help.

A verse from James Montgomery; “Stand up and bless the Lord, the Lord your God adore; stand up and bless his glorious name, hence forth forever more”.

AMEN and Pray on!

Worship Wednesday with Pastor Edith
September 3, 2026
John 3:16-17, John 13:34-35

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world, but the world through him might be saved” (KJV).

A few of my fellow church members and I have been trying to read and journal assigned passages of Scripture that are themed for each month. This month the theme is; “The Fruit of the Spirit”. I love looking at and meditating on the fruit of the Spirit as I am reminded that faith in Christ is a growing thing, a fruit bearing experience.

The focus of today’s main scripture; John 3:16-17 is the love of God; a love that will not let me go (as a beautiful hymn celebrates). This love is beyond feelings, beyond affinities, beyond anything human. The Greek word Agape; a spiritual love that knows no bounds, describes for us a way of loving and living that fulfills God’s command to Love Him with all that we are and to love our neighbor as ourselves. John writes later in his Gospel that Jesus declares; “A new command I give you; Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another”.

When you review the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23), You will see that love is the first fruit. I believe Paul was putting these in just such an order that we might always put Jesus first and his commandment to love first. Here’s where it get’s tough; how to love like Jesus when my flesh, my natural way is not so much the Jesus way. So, believers and followers of Christ are to daily take up their cross of life struggle and commit His way to our own. Reading, meditating, memorizing and reciting the life-giving words of Christ is the way to true loving and true living.

I found a confession of faith written by Leo Tolstoy: “I believe in God, who is for me spirit, love, the principle of all things. I believe that God is in me, as I am in Him. I believe that the true welfare of man consists in fulfilling the will of God. I believe that from the fulfillment of the will of God there can follow nothing but that which is good for me and for all men. I believe that the will of God is that every man should love his fellow men, and should act toward others as he desires that they should act toward him. I believe that the reason of life is for each of us simply to grow in love. I believe that this growth in love will contribute more than any other force to establish the Kingdom of God on earth”.

A Closing hymn: “O love that wilt not let me go, I rest my weary soul in Thee; I give Thee back the life I owe, That in Thine ocean depths its flow may richer, fuller be” (George Matheson 1882).

AMEN and Pray on!